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Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Oh, my goodness, is this holiday season getting away from anyone else? It’s been nonstop here.

On the bright side, between school holiday programs and waiting rooms for checkups I’ve been able to get quite a bit of knitting done despite our busy schedules. On the not-so-bright side — literally — the short days and rainy weather seem to be conspiring against me taking any progress photos.

I’m still knitting away on my Diamond Pullover. The front and back pieces are done, leaving me with about a sleeve and a half to knit before I can sew the sweater together. I still hope to have it ready in time for Christmas. Or maybe New Year’s Eve.

Our home is decorated for Christmas, and we’ve begun food preparations. I spent so much time kneading a troublesome batch of dough for chruścik, a sweet crisp Polish pastry, that my activity tracker registered it as a cardio workout and said I hit my step goal.

Dusted with powdered sugar, chruścik are also known as “angel wings.

This week will likely be just as busy, with end-of-semester projects and exams followed by wrapping gifts and baking cookies. It’s still making, just a different kind: making merry and making memories.

I wish you the best in all that you’re making as 2018 draws to a close.

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

I always seem to end up digging through my stash of project kits this time of year. Many of the kits are Christmas-themed, so on that level the timing makes sense. However, they’re rarely as quick and giftable as I want them to be. This week’s kit is an exception.

A few years ago, I was given a beginner’s Jingle Tree Ornament Kit from Penny Marble Quilt Designs, complete with all of the necessary materials except glue. Although it’s made with fabric, this is a no-sew project.

I don’t want to give away they entire process, but I will say that the most difficult part of making the tree ornament was punching the holes into the fabric-covered paper strips. I actually broke a sweat!

The entire project took only about an hour to make, which is great for quick holiday gifts. I used quick-dry craft glue, and the most time-consuming step was still holding the pieces together as I waited for the glue to set.

To construct the ornament, the three fabric pieces are strung onto a piece of ribbon along with a star for the top, two large beads to serve as the tree trunk, and a small bell at the bottom. Yes, it really does jingle!

I wouldn’t recommend this kit for young children because it requires the use of an iron, plus the patience to hold the pieces together as the glue dries. But it would be a fun holiday activity for older children with supervision, teens, and adults alike. I’m definitely going to come back to this pattern again.

What are your favorite quick and easy projects for holiday gift-giving?